In the doghouse

Posted:
10/28/2012 10:05:54 AM MDT

I've occasionally mentioned, or asked about a word or phrase you don't hear much recently. In that same vein, here's something that used to be in nearly everyone's yard, some years back, but you very seldom see anymore.

Dog houses. There used to be doghouses of every shape and size in front or back yards. Some were really very elaborate. I remember building one in Northern Montana that was shaped like the dog owners house, but in miniature. It was a double A frame unit, sided and roofed with cedar shakes. It had carpet on the floor, and the floor was heated. The heat was controlled by a thermostat, so it only came on when it was freezing. The space between the two A frames, where the garage was on the main house, was large enough that a German Shepherd could go through it.

Most dog houses were a lot more basic than that one, but provided shelter from the elements. There was often an old blanket or two inside that the dog would lie on, after turning around the prerequisite three times.

I've seen them built under porches, made of straw bales, obviously hammered together by a ten year old kid using tools for about the first time, and often, as simple as a bit of gunny sack, or old horse blanket lying in a place out of the wind.

I guess the dogs all live inside with their owners. You'll notice I said owners and not parents, as some dog owners call themselves. It still doesn't feel right, to me, to call your pet your kid. If you want to, that's your decision, but I still feel dogs, and cats are pets, not kin.

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I suppose it's the way I was raised, but that's how I feel.

My youngest son, Monte, was here visiting for the past week. He used to help me when I was riding for various ranches and when I was a livestock inspector. It was nice to have help that I knew would do what needed to be done, when it needed done. We hadn't ridden together for at many years, but got to be horse back together for a couple of hours. Dang, that was good. We need to do it again, sometime.

We came across another rider who had their dog along. It was nice to see a dog that, even though off leash, was traveling a short distance from the rider and never got out of sight of its owner. Reminded me of ranch dogs that knew their job, kept an eye on their owner, who may have been horse back, but might well have been in a pickup or driving a four wheeler. The dog was a partner, great help, immediately obedient, and worth two or three cowboys. You don't see them very often anymore.

I've been fortunate to have had a couple of good dogs. One in particular. They're worth their weight in gold, whether pet or kin.

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